Cypripedium reginae

This is commonly called showy lady's slipper, the state flower of Minnesota. I bought this particular plant last June. It was a seedling from Heritage Perennials; these seedlings can be purchased from many major nurseries in my city of Edmonton, in the 4" blue pots distinctive of Heritage and with the big, colorful tags. These sell for $30 universally. Many gardeners who live in Canada and possibly the US will know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I've noticed that a lot of people want to buy these but hesitate because of their price and reputation of being difficult to grow. Let me tell you, in one year I bloomed this plant, and it looks fantastic! It wan't hard at all! This was not my first C. reginae. Also, $30 is low for a Cyp, and these will probably bloom in their second year in the garden.

I planted it in part shade (morning sun), on the east side of a building. You can also plant it under a tree. I used a mix of:

3 parts Premier Pro-Mix HP (which is basically 3 parts perlite, 2 parts peat)

1 part cactus mix (which is basically 1 part sand, 1 part gravel, 1 part peat or potting soil)

1 part compost

1 part grit or fine gravel, or coarse sand

1 part fine Paphiopedilum mix (4 parts fine bark, 1 part perlite, 1 part charcoal, 1 part peat)

Dolomite lime for pH adjustment (pH 7-8 required)

This mix filled a hole 12" deep by 12" wide, which had already had a 2" drainage layer of clay pellets added. Gravel or something similar can also be used for the drainage layer. Note also that the exact mix above does not have to be used; we just want a mix of similar consistency, which is free-draining but does not dry out rapidly. A constantly wet/stagnant mix will kill the plant. Yet, a bone dry mix will kill it quicker in the heat of the summer - this plant does like constant moisture. So, I water it enough to keep it moist, but not so much it stays saturated. It also likes lots of nutrients, and lots of calcium. So I apply bone meal twice a year, in the late spring as the plant starts into growth and in high summer after flowering, when the roots are actively growing. I also fertilize during the growing season with Miracle-Gro for perennials, though I hold off for 2 weeks after applying bone meal. This is done every 2 weeks until the fall.

This plant starts emerging in mid to late May in my region (zone 3) and is in flower by the end of June. In warmer regions it can be active up to 2 weeks earlier. It is always later than pretty much all other Cyps. The flowers last about 2 weeks and are fragrant, and large (larger than most yellow lady's slipper flowers). The plant has larger leaves and grows taller than yellows as well, to 3 feet when fully mature and established. Established clumps very commonly develop double-flowered stems. By October the plant is dormant in most regions. This plant will grow well in zones 3-7, zone 2 with protection and zone 8 in a fully shaded spot. It needs a 3-4 month winter dormancy.